Sing the Queen City!

On today’s episode, the final episode in our series, we’re celebrating the May Festival, Cincinnati’s oldest cultural organization and a vibrant part of our community since its founding in 1873. Our guests are James Bagwell, the conductor of the May Festival Youth Chorus from 1997 to 2018, and Robert Porco, Director of Choruses for the May Festival since 1989. We spoke with both of them last fall about their lives in music and what makes the May Festival distinctive.

Today we are speaking with Kanniks Kanneswaran, a music composer, conductor, educator, and Director of the Shanti Choir or the Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir.

This episode we are talking with Dr. Catherine Roma who's extraordinary career in choral music is a true inspiration.

This week's episode of SING THE QUEEN CITY features two conductors from Korea who now call Cincinnati their home: Sarah Kim, conductor of the Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, and Hyejung Jun, who was previously the May Festival conducting fellow.

February is Black History Month and we are celebrating by drawing your attention to just a few of the many Black and African American choral musicians in our city and the extraordinary art they create all year long. In this episode we are talking with William Henry Caldwell, Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots Community Choir, as well as Marcellene Winfrey and Eric Oliver- two musical leaders of the Classical Roots.

February is Black History Month and we are celebrating by drawing your attention to just a few of the many Black and African American choral musicians in our city and the extraordinary art they create all year long.In this episode we are talking with Steve Milloy, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Men's Chorus and Jillian Harrison-Jones, Music Director of MUSE, Cincinnati Women's Choir. Both organizations have a long history of bringing social justice through song.

We are talking with Jason Alexander Holmes, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Boychoir. Part of Jason's interview was featured in our first episode with Robyn Lana from Cincinnati Youth Choir. This time we feature his full interview where we talk about the Boychoir, Cincinnati and so much more!

We are speaking with Funmilayo Ajamufua, Programs Coordinator at Bi-Okoto Cultural Center. Their mission is to "preserve, promote and share the rich cultural heritage of Africa and Africans using drums, music, dance, food, languages and other arts." Take a listen and learn about the amazing programs they offer!

We are celebrating the impact that singing can have on your life both in good times and in bad. We are speaking with Danielle Cozart Steele, Artistic Director of Cincinnati's Young Professionals Choral Collective and Melissa Haas, singer with Threshold Choir.

We are talking with composer and conductor, Howard Helvey. Though he has called Cincinnati home for more than three decades, his music is sung by choirs all over the world. We chatted about his life as a composer, his fondness for Cincinnati and his hopes for the post-pandemic community of singers.The recording of Howard Helvey’s “O Quam Gloriosum”, heard in this podcast was recorded by the East Carolina University Chamber Singers; Dr. Daniel Bara, director; Christopher Grymes, clarinet. From the CD Eternal Light http://www.gothic-catalog.com/EternalLightp/g-49272.htm (Gothic Records, G-49272), Copyright 2010 Loft Recordings, LLC. Used with kind permission.

We are talking with Stephanie Nash, one of our region's most active musicians.Listen to her wide ranging work, how she came to the Cincinnati area and what makes choral music an important part of people's lives.

Hello Friends! The May Festival wishes you the very best for your holiday season.We hope you enjoy the poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" from Alfred Lord Tennyson read by Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell.

Today we are talking with William Henry Caldwell, Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Classical Roots Community Choir, as well as Marcellene Winfrey and Eric Oliver- two of the Classical Roots musical leaders.

We are talking with Craig Hella Johnson, Music Director of Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble. We also hear briefly from Stephanie Nash, Assistant Conductor of VAE. Craig and Stephanie chatted with us about the robust past and vibrant future of VAE. They both also talk about VAE's recording of 'Canticle' by Kile Smith.

We are talking with Cantor Yvon Shore, Director of Liturgical Arts and Music at Cincinnati's Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.Listen to Yvon's fascinating story about life, music and more!

In this episode we are talking with Steve Milloy, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Men's Chorus and Jillian Harrison-Jones, Music Director of MUSE, Cincinnati Women's Choir. Both organizations have a long history of bringing social justice through song.

We are talking with Dr. Joe Miller, the new Director of Choral Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

We're talking with Dr. Earl Rivers on the recent conclusion of his extraordinary five-decade tenure in the choral department at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Enjoy a conversation with Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, to hear about the Opera’s glittering first century and what lies ahead in the next 100 years.

We’re talking to Nathan Mensah and Brian Wildman of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Choral Collective, a unique workplace choir that unites employees from all corners of the hospital. Tune in to hear about the impact of singing on their healthcare community.

Cincinnati offers exciting opportunities for singers of all ages - including excellent programs for children and youth. A conversation with Robyn Lana, founder and managing artistic director of the Cincinnati Youth Choir, and Jason Alexander Holmes, artistic director of the Cincinnati Boychoir, about how their organizations are bringing singing and community into the lives of young Cincinnatians.

Cincinnati is truly "The City That Sings"! The May Festival, America's oldest choral festival, has been celebrating singing in our city since 1873 - but our city's choral tradition is now more vibrant than ever. Join us as we talk to the singers, conductors, and administrators that make our city a great place for singing. New episodes available weekly beginning October 15, 2020. Subscribe today and visit us online at www.mayfestival.com for more information.